Probably would be pretty difficult for the uncircumsized to rape anyone! All that extra drag and no natural lubrication (from pleasure) and that goes for raping males as well.

Makes ya wonder how and WHY our ancient forefathers REALLY invented circumcision!!! Hmmmmmmmmmm...........

Makes for really fierce soldiers, don't you think, Megabite?

A stranger, in casual conversation about WWII, spit out his opinion that there is no way soldiers WOULDN'T rape in wartime.

We (husband and wife) were taken aback. We could only conclude he was carrying a very heavy memory. And quite a bit of anger.

This, and some wartime rape stories I've been told but will never repeat, make me wonder whose big idea it was to interfere with OTHER people's most intimate feelings.

Far from it being a religious 'test', I can only believe it is mindless savagery.

Point taken about the rape of males, too, Megabite. I'd like to add the sorrows of the elderly who think they are 'beyond' intimate feelings, and the bitter pill it is to swallow when, and if, they suspect the true cause of their bereavement.

The life and joy-smothering effects of such a practice are mind-boggling.

The excuses and 'reasons' offered are lame.

No. Far worse than lame.

Should we talk about it or not?

I've been searching for the reasons for Depression for many years. I get strangely unmotivated from time to time.

One by one, layer by layer, I've been discovering the issues I've shelved because I couldn't see answers, yet.

Most importantly, I decided to only look for what is better.

It is too easy to keep talking about the errors, magnifying them, and feeling awful.

In looking for what is better, I've discovered that there is ALWAYS a happy answer to "What shall I do now?"

Have you read Jane Goodall's 'Four Reasons for Hope'? http://www.janegoodall.org/jane/essay.asp It's a beautiful point-of-view.

I've also found that I believe that at the end of our lives, all our questions are answered and we are all whole, and content.

It's been really helpful to realize that this state of wholeness exists all the time, all of our lives, and forever...and that it is available to us at any time.

Nor do we have to do anything to earn this comfort, this peace. All we need do is acknowledge it, embrace it; and wait for what is better to be revealed. Though it exists all the time, we worry, and miss the point...we don't always 'get it', yet.

A year ago I couldn't have written in this forum. I felt too badly about this subject.

Somehow, my current Depression led me to read here, and I wrote and discovered how I really do feel about it. Maybe there really are alternatives.

Yesterday afternoon, I felt Depression lift, just from writing here and searching the Net.

Talking thoughtfully about this subject is a huge step forward for the whole world. Somehow we'll find ways to do better, one person at a time.

Today, it occurred to me that we can't make blanket decisions for all mankind on any subject. We can only understand, one person at a time. And, in the meanwhile, keep everything as near to whole and wholesome as possible.

Maybe our own quiet optimism helps others.